Sprinkler-alarm apparatus.



J. R. HAMILTON. SPRINKLER ALARM APPARATUS.

APPLIGATION FILED JUNE 26, 190!)A Patented May 14, 1912.

ATTORNEYS UNITED sTATEs NPATENT oEEIoE.

JOHN R. HAMILTON, OF YONKERS, NEW YORK, ASSIG'NOR T0 VENTURIALARM COM-.PANY, OF DOVER, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 14, 1912.

Application filed June 26, 1909. Serial No. 504,423.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, JOHN R. HAmLToN, a citizen of the United States, andresident of Yonkers, county of iilestchestei', and State of New York,have made a certain new and useful Invention Relating to Sprinkler-AlarmApparatus, of which the following is a specification, taken inconnection with the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to sprinkler alarm apparatus and relatesespecially to apparatus in which the alarm is provided with alarm valvesor actuating devices normally operating the alarm on a relative decreasein pressure in the distributing system and also provided with detentdevices which are operated on an initial increase of pressure in t-hesupply pipe so as to prevent the operation of the alarm devices.

In the accompanying drawings, showing in a somewhat diagrammatic manneran illustrative embodiment of this invention, and in which the samereference numeral refers to similar' parts in the several. figures,Figure 1 is a diagrammatic elevation, parts being shown in section, andFig. 2 is an enlarged section of part of the device.

As indicated the supply pipe 1 may be connected with suitabledistributing pipes, such as 38, at the various floors 40 of the buildingso as to supply sprinkler heads, such as 39, located at intervals in theusual manner. The main 5 may connect through the suitable shut-off valve4 with the inlet portion 3 of the supply pipe leading to the supplychamber 80 which may have a suitable supply valve in the form of a checkvalve 31 coperating if desired with a valve seat 61 having an annularrecess communieating with the vent or drip connection 33 leading to thedri chamber 43 so as to relieve the pressure 1n this annular recess andgive the valve a differential action. The drip chamber may as indicatedbe provided with a drip ball 45 mounted upon a suitable contact lever 48so that when the leakage cannot be taken care of through the escape pipe50 having a suitably throttled discharge the drip ball rises and thelever comes in contact with the coperating contact 44 in the insulatingbushing 49 so as to complete the electric circuit indicated through thebattery 46 and drip alarm 47 calling attention to this difficulty. Asimilar distributing valve may be mounted at the other side of thesupply chamber next the distributing system, or if desired, thedistributing valve 30 may be loosely mounted on the valve lever 32 andas indicated may have the bleeding passage which should be of such sizeas to properly coperate with the bleeding passage 74 in the supplyvalve, in the form of a Venturi passage 34, as is indicated in somewhatgreater detail in F ig. 2. The exhaust passage 62 may, as indicated,communicate with the throat of the venturi and with the annular recess35 in the valve seat 60, so that as flow commences the reduction ofpressure at the throat of the venturi causes a corresponding reductionof pressure in the annular recess in the valve seat which may be giventhe proper size to effect the desired differential action of the valve.If desired a suitable air chamber 37 may be connected with the supplychamber by the pipe 36 preferably provided with a suitable adjustingvalve 56 so as to regulate the flow of fluid during operatingconditions.

The alarm apparatus may comprise a suitable float chamber 84 andcoperating detent chamber 7 connected by a suitable channel, such as 52,which may be provided with a. suitable detent valve seat 66. Thischamber may have a suitable valve seat 68 with which the float or alarmvalve 69 coperates so as to control the action of the alarm devices andthe fioatI valve may, as indicated, be loosely connected with a suitablefloat 9in 'the float chamber which may, as indicated,

be provided with a suitable stem 16 on which is mounted a suitablesocket or connecting member 70 loosely embracing a collar or projectionat the lower end of the float valve 69. A suitable buoyant fluid,preferably of a heavy water immiscible character, such for instance, asmercury may be used in the float chamber which may be provided with asuitable choke passage 10 of' sufficient length or provided with asuflicient enlargement, or reservoir 11 so as to allow the proper actionof the fluid, an ad 20 A therein and this detent member may, asinadjustable throttle valve 54 so as to cont-rol its effective area andthe movement of the fluid from the detent chamber into the throttlepassage with which a suit-able enlargement or receiver 6 may beconnected,

if desired. It is of course understood that the, other parts of thesechambers, except the air chamber and drip chamber, and also thesupply-and distributing pipes are normally filled with water which isnot indicated in the drawing to avoid confusion. A

. lsuitable detent member 13 may be mounted in any desired way in thedetent chamber so as to be buoyed up when the fluid rises dicated, beloosely pivoted toa suitable bell crank lever or connection 14 connectedto the detent 15 which may as indicated be located within the channel 52and supported adjacent its free end in a suitable guide 67. This detentmay coperate in any desired way with the alarm valve or connected alarmdevices so as to prevent its actuation when the detent is operated. Forexample, the end of the`detent may when it is forced forward engage in asuitable lock connect-ed to the float or float valve, as for example byforming a suitable lock' 71 in the form of annular notches on the stem16 of the float valve which may of coursev character may be mounted onthe detent sol as to engage the coperating detent valve seat 66 when thedetent is operated and thus close the connecting channel and in this wayprevent the actuation of the alarm valve and devices or, .if desired,both these expediente may be adopted as indicated in the drawings.

Any suitable forms of alarm may be used, such for example, as the usualmechanical alarm in the form of a suitable water motor 19 whose'shaftcarries a bell hammer 22 to engage a bell located on the outside of thebuilding or other desired place, when water is supplied to the motorwhich may have the discharge pipe 20. A suitable electrical alarm mayalso be used if desired and this may be in the form of an alarm bellconnected with its operating battery or the like and with the twocontacts 25, 426 coperating with the contact member 27 mounted on asuitable flexible diaphragm 29 within the chamber 24. When the pressurein the pipe 23 increases this diaphragm is of course forced upward,making electrical contact through the bell and battery and giving acated be operated by connecting them 'with the alarm .pipe 18 which isconnected with4 suitable alarm. These alarms may as indior float valve69 so that when this valve is withdrawn from its seat fluid within thefloat chamber may pass to the alarms and actuate them.

A suitable distributing connection such as 12 may connect thedistributing system pref erably adjacent the supply chamber with thechoke passage 10 or its reservoir 1l... A suitable supply chamberconnection such as 41 may connect the supply chamber with the detentchamber 7 and channel 52, and also under normal conditions with thelioat chamber 8. A suitable main connection such as 42 may connectthesupply pipe below the supply chamber, that is, on the opposite sidefrom the distributingsystem with the throttle passage 51 or theconnected enlargement thereof, 'that is, the receiver 6. It will ofcourse be readily understood by those familiar with this art that theemergency operation of the system in the event of a fire causes flow ofwater' from the various sprinkler heads and consequent diminution ofpressure in the distributing system and connected supply pipe. Thisreduction of pressure is transmitted through the distributing connection12 to the reservoir 11 into which the mercury or other buoyant fluid isforced from the float chamber so that after a short interval the float 9ceases to press the float valve 69 against-its seat and finallywithdraws it therefrom allowing t-he admission of'fluid to the alarmpipe 18 and thus actuating the alarms. If, however, an increase ofpressure through water hammer or other laction occurs in the main andconnected portion of the supply pipe below the supply chamber 13 andactuating the detent 15. The de? vtent would thus engage the lock 71 andprevent such movement of the float as would actuate the float valve andY also, as indicated, 'the detent valve 65 4would be brought intoengagement with the coperating seat 66 so as to close the channel 52 andthus prevent such movement of fluid therethrough as might actuate thefloat. While of 'course flow occurs through the comparatively smallbleeding passages 34, 74 in or adjacent to the valves on either side ofthe supply .chamber the pressure in this supply chamber remainssubstantially constant at the beginning of How in the system, especiallywhen-an air chamber is connected thereto. take care of slight variationsyin pressure rllhese bleeding passages however iat) and graduallyequalize the fluid pressure in the' various parts of the system, except,of course, under emergency conditions when j the valves open, giving afree passage through the supply chamber and supplying water to the headsopened by the tire.

Having described this invention in connection with a number ofillustrative embodiments, devices, proportions and arrangements ofparts, to the details o-which disclosure the invention is not of courseto be limited what is claimed as new and what is desired to be securedby Letters Patent is set forthjn the appended claims.

1. In sprinkler alarm apparatus, a supply'pipe connected with adistributing system and formed with a supply chamber, a distributingcheck valve between said supply chamber and said distributing system anda supply check valve governing the inlet of said supply chamber awayfrom said .distributing system, an air chamber provided with anadjustable connection communicating with said supply chamber, saiddistributing and supply valves being provided with bleeding passages andwith seats having annular recesses, one of said valves *having a Venturipassage therethrough and having the exhaust throat of said Venturipassage connected to the annular recess in the coperating valve seat andone of said valves having the annular recess in its seat connected to arelief drip chamber to cause a differential action, a Heat chamber, acooperating detent chamber, a channel connecting said 'loat chamber andsaid detent chamber and .provided with a detent valve seat, a reservoirconnected to said float chamber through a choke passage provided 40 withan adjustable choke valve adjacent its lower port-ion, mercury in saidioat chamber, a float. having a float stemand lockl and having a floatvalve loosely connected thereto, electrical and mechanical alarms, an

alarm pipe connected with and adapted to actuate said alarms andconnected to said fioat chamber through a valve seat controlled by saidfloat valve, a receiver con- 'nected with said detent chamber through athrottle passage having an adjustable throttle valve adjacent 1ts lowerportion, mercury in said detent chamber, a detent member mounted in saiddetent chamber, a detent operatively connected with said detent memberand coperating with said lock to prevent the release of said float valvewhen said detent member is actuated, a detent valve on said detentcoperating with said detent valve seat in said channel, and

closing connection between said detent chamber and said fioat chamberwhen said detent member is actuated, a supply chamber ,connectionbetween said detent chamber and said-supply chamber, a distributing con,

nection between said reservoir and said distributing system normallytending to operate said oat valve and alarms when the pressure in saiddistributing system becomes less than in said supply chamber and a mainconnection between said receiver and said supply pipe to actuate saiddetent devices when the pressure in said supply pipeincreases beyondthat in said supply chamber.

2. In sprinkler alarm apparatus, a supply pipe connected with adistributing system and formed with a supply chamber, a distributingvalve between said supply chamber and said distributing system and asupply valve governing the inlet of said supply chamber, an air chambercommunicating with said supply chamber, said distributing and supplyvalves being provided with seats having annular recesses, one of saidvalves having a Venturi passage therethrough and having the exhaustthroat of said Venturi passage connected to the annular recess in thecoperating valve seat and one of said valves having an annular recess inits seat provided with a relief connection to cause` a differentialaction, there being bleeding passages provided on both sides of saidsupply chamber, a float chamber, a coperatlng detent chamber, a channelconnectlng said float chamber and said detent chamber, a choke passageconnected with said float chamber and provided with an adjustable chokevalve, buoyant -fluid in said fioat chamber, a float having a float stemand lock and having a float valve loosely connected thereto, an alarmconnected to said float chamber through a valve seat controlled by saidfloat valve, a throttle passage connected to .said detent chamber andhaving an adjustable throttle valve, bouyant fluid in said detentchamber, a detent member mounted in said detent chamber, a detentoperatively connected with said detent member and coperating with saidlock to prevent the. release 'of said float valve when said detentmember is actuated, a supply chamber connection between said detentchamber and said supply chamber, a distributing connection between saidchoke passage and said distributing system normally tending to operatesaid float valve and alarm when the pressure in said dis-v tributingsystem decreases and a main connection between said throttle passage andsaid supply pipe to actuate said detent devices when the pressure insaid supply plpe increases. y

3.*In sprinkler alarm apparatus, a sup-i ply chamber to be connectedwith a distributing system and with a supply pipe, a

distributing valve between said supply chamber and said distributingsystem anda supply valve governing the inlet .of sa1d supply chamberaway from sald distributing system, anA air chamber communicatlng withsaid supply chamber, bleeding passages n on both sides of said supplychamber, a

float chamber, a coperating detent chamber adapted to b connected tosaid supply chamber, an adjustable choke passage connected to said floatchamber and adapted to be connected to said distributing system, buoyantHuid in said float chamber, a float and connectedioat valve in said ioatcham: ber, an alarm connected to said float chamber and actuated Whensaid iioat valve is Withdrawn from its seat, an adjustable ply chamberto be connected with a dist-ribthrottle passage connected to saidldetent chamber adapted to be connected With said supply pipe, buoyantfluid in said detent chamber, a detent member mounted in said detentchamber and a detent operatively connected with said detent member andpreventing the operation of said float valve when said detent member isactuated..

fi. In sprinkler' alarm apparatus, a suputing system and with a supplypipe, a distributing valve between said supply cha-mber and saiddistributing system and a supply valve governing the inlet of saidsupply chamber away from said distributing system, an air chambercommunicating With said supply chamber, a float chamber, a co-voperatingV detent chamber adapted to be connected to said supplychamber, a choke' passage connected to said iioat chamber and adapted tobe connected to said distributing system, buoyant fluid in said floatchamber, a loat and connected float valve in said float chamber, analarm connected to said float chamber and actuated When said float valveis Withdrawn from its seat, a throttle passage connected 'to saidldetent. chamber adapted to be connected with said supplyk connected Withsaid supply chamber, a float chamber and a coperating detent chamber tobe connected With said supply chamber, a choke passage connected to saidfloat chamber .and adapted to be connected/'With said distributingsystem, buoyant fluid in saidvloat chamber, a iloat in said floatvcham-v lber, an alarm to be actuated bymovement ogfsaid iioat, athrottle passage connected to` saidfdetent chamber and adapted to beconnected with said supply pipe, buoyant fluid air chamber connectedWith said supplyv chamber, a distributing valve governing the dischargeof :fluid from said supply chamber into said distributing system, asupply valve governing the entrance of fluid into said supply chamberfrom said supply pipe, normally open bleeding passa es on both sides ofsaid supply chamber, a oat chamber and a. cooperating detent chamberadapted to be connected with -said supply chamber, a channel connectingsaidiioat chamber-and said detent chamberand provided with a detentvalve seat, a choke passage connected to said. icat chamber and adaptedto be connected With said distributing system, an alarm, means in saidiloat chamber to actuate said alarm by movement of fluid in said floatchamber, a throttle passage connected to said detent chamber and adaptedto be connected With said supply pipe, a detent having a detent valvecooperating with said detent valve seat and means in said detent chamberto actuate said detent and prevent the actuation of said alarm.

7. In sprinkler' alarm apparatus, a supply chamber adapted to beconnected With a distributing system and With a supply pipe and havingmeans at both its inlet and outlet sides to cause a difference ofpressure `on the'beginning ofloW therethrough, an air chainber connectedto said supply chamber,

an alarm and alarm 'actuating devices adapted `to be connected with saiddistributing system to actuate said alarm on decrease of pressure insaid distributing system, a detent chamber to be connected to saidsupply chamber, a passage connected With said detent chamber and adaptedto beco-nnected to said supply pipe, a ydetentmember in, said detentchamber to be actuated on an increase of pressure in said supply pipeand a detent operatively connected with said detent member andpreventing the operation oi'said alarm by said alarm devices when saiddetent member is actuated.

8. In sprinkler alarm apparatus, an alarm, and alarm actuating devicesadapted to actuate said alarm on decrease of pressure in a distributing'system, detent actuating means to be connected With the supply pipe ofsaid distributing system and be operated on an increase of pressure insaid supply pipe and a detent operatively con-` nected Withsaid detentactuating means vand cooperating With said alarm actuating devices toprevent their actuating said alarm whn said detntactuating means isoperate 9. In sprinkler alarm apparatus, a supply chamber adapted to beconnected with a distributing system andwithasupply pipe and havingmeans at both its inlet and outlet. sides to cause a difference ofpressure on the beginning of low therethrough, an alarm and alarmactuating devices adapted to be connected with said distributing systemto actuate said alarm on decrease of pressure in said distributingsystem, a detent chamber to be connected to said supply chamber, apassage connected with said detent chamber and adapted to be connectedto said supply pipe, a detent member in said detent chamber to beactuated on an increase of pressure'in said supply pipe and a detentoperatively connected with said detent member and preventing theoperation of said alarm by said alarm devices when said detent member isactuated.

10. In sprinkler alarm apparatus, a supply chamber to be connected witha distributing system and vwith a supply pipe, a distributing valvegoverning the discharge of lluid from said supply chamber into saiddistributing system, a supply 'valve governing the entrance of fluidinto said supply chamber from said supply pipe, normally open bleedingpassages on both sides of said supply chamber, a float chamber and acooperating detent chamber adapted to be connected with said supplychamber, a channel connecting said float chamber and said detent chamberand provided with a detent valve seat, a choke passage connected to saidfloat chamber and adapted to be connected with said distributing system,an alarm, means in said float chamber to actuate said alarm by movementof fluid in said float chamber, a throttle passage connected to saiddetent chamber and adapted to be connected with said supply pipe, adetent having a detent valve coperating with said detent valve seat andmeans in said detent chamber to actuate said detent and prevent theactuation of said alarm.

11. In sprinkler alarm apparatus, a supply chamber to be connected witha distributing system and with a supply pipe, a distributing valvegoverning the discharge from said supply chamber to said distributingsystem, a supply valve governing the entrance of fluid into said supplychamber from said supply pipe, a float chamber and a coperating detentchamber to be connected with said supply chamber, a choke passageconnected to said oat chamber and adapted to be` connectedwith saiddistrib-` uting system, buoyant fluid in said float chamber, a float insaid float chamber, an alarm to be actuated .by movement of said oat, lathrottle passage connected to 4said detent chamber fand adapted to beconnected with said su ply pipe, buoyant Huid in said detent cham er, adetent member mounted in said detent chamber and a detent operativelyconnected with said detent member and preventing the actuation of saidalarm by said float when said detent member is actuated.

12. In sprinkler alarm apparatus, a supply chamber to be connected witha distributing system and with a supply pipe, a distributing valvebetween said supply chamber and said distributing system, a floatchamber, a coperating detent chamber adapted to be connected with saidsupply chamber, a choke passage connected to said float chamber andadapted to be connected to said distributing system, buoyant fluid insaid float chamber, a float and connected float valve in said floatchamber, an alarm connected to said float chamber, a detent membermounted in said detent chamber and a detent operatively connected withsaid detent member and preventing the operation of said float valve whensaid detent member is actuated.

13. In sprinkler alarm apparatus, a supply chamber to be connected witha distributing system and with a supply pipe, a distributing valvebetween said supply chamber and said distributing system and a supplyvalve governing the inlet of Said supply chamber away from saiddistributing system, a floatchamber, a coperating detent chamber adaptedto be connected to 'said supply chamber, a choke passage connected tosaid float chamber and adapted to be connected to said distributingsystem, buoyant fluid in said float chamber, a float and connected floatvalve in said float chamber, an alarm connected to said float chamberand actuated when said float valve is withdrawn from its seat, athrottle passage connected to said detent chamber adapted to beconnected with said supply pipe, buoyant fluid in said detent chamber, adetent member 4mounted in said detent chamber and a detent operativelyconnected with said detent member and preventing the operation of saidfloat valve when said det'ent member is actuated.

14. 'In sprinkler alarm apparatus, an alarm, and alarm actuating devicesadapted to actuate said alarm on decrease of pressure in a distributingsystem, a detent member and detent actuating means to be connected withthe supply pipe of said distributing system to actuate said detentmember on an increase of pressure in said supply pipe, said detentmembercoperating with said alarm actuating devices to pre-v vent the actuationof said alarm when said detent member is actuated.

15. In sprinkler alarm apparatus, alarm actuating devices adapted tooperate on a decrease of pressure in a distributing` systo prevent theiroperar-lon when said detent tem, a-detent membr and detent actuatingmember is actuated.

means adapted t0 econnected with said distributing system to actuatesaid detent JOHN R' HAMILTON' `5 member on an increase of pressure insaid Witnesses:

distributing system, said detent member co- JEssIE B. KAY,

operating with said alarm actuating devices HARRY L. DUNCAN.

